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Athletics - Shakes-Drayton to keep focus on 400m hurdles

Perri Shakes-Drayton has reaffirmed that her immediate future still lies in the 400m hurdles as the London Olympian targets June's European Athletics Team Championships at Gateshead International Stadium.

The 24-year-old claimed European bronze over 400m hurdles in Barcelona in 2010 and competed in the event at London 2012 – reaching the semi-finals.

But Shakes-Drayton has also demonstrated her skill over a flat lap, most recently at the beginning of March in Gothenburg when she claimed European Indoor 400m gold and helped Great Britain's women top the podium in the 4x400m relay.

However the Londoner insists she has no intention on turning her back on the hurdles any time soon, preparing herself for a battle with Scotland's Eilidh Child – who won 400m silver and was also a member of the relay team in Gothenburg – for a place in Team GB & NI at the European Athletics Team Championships.

When asked about switching to a flat 400m permanently Shakes-Drayton said: "Not quite yet - for now I'm now a 400m hurdler.

"I look forward to doing my hurdle sessions and was straight back onto the hurdles after the Europeans Athletics Indoor Championships.

"Speed is the crucial thing in the 400 metre hurdles so the fact I've run a world-leading time gives me great confidence and I’m looking forward to what I can do over the hurdles now.

"There'll be two of us, both of high quality trying to get the one 400m hurdles place in what is essentially a team contest.

"It's [European Athletics Team Championships] a great competition and one which I want to compete at again.

"To guarantee my place I plan to run a really fast early season time better than anyone else. I'm no stranger to the Gateshead track. I ran at the English Schools here a few years ago and I would love to come back again."